windthread

the Pines on this Hill are Foothill Pines.  Wikipedia says the average height is 60 ft.  But so many of these are much more which leads us to wonder if there has Ever been a full Fire here.  They often have multiple trunks and always long long sprawling branches that extend horizontally and often then arch down.  The sprawling and arching leads to heavy sometimes weakened branches that are prone to holding water from the heavy winter rainfall and will break.  Sometimes falling themselves,  sometimes pulling down the whole tree.   Huge ones have fallen since i've been here.  There are still MANY.  I've told before how their pinecones are the size of pineapples.  Full of pine nuts but like iron to break open.  Unless you are a squirrel.  This is looking up from where i stand at Sunny Ray and Jack Flash's gate every morning and evening after feeding…catching my breath.   The branches of one tree weave into another and on and on.

Here the branches of the Pine at the edge of the road up extends across that road and touches branches of the Oaks that are primary on the other side.  Branch to branch.  The canopy.  the Overstory.

the second year here there were two squirrels all luxurious and grey coated with lush flashy tails.    Didn't see them often but enough to know they were there.  the third year,  saw them less.   This circle around there seems to be only One young one?  Almost every day i see him sailing through the branches…running like lightning and leaping branch to branch running again.  He can travel the entire acres here that way and does.  

Tay is only a little interested.  If they,  or now he,  is over by the truck,  in the collection of stuff there,  she will bark but not wholeheartedly.  She gets it that it's futile.  I don't think Puppy could hunt one.  They are too fast and too skilled at climbing to be hunted.   Hawks maybe?   But i have never seen any indication of that…fur and bone.    So he is a much loved Mystery.

 i watch him and send up messages of Hope that he will find a partner here.  His aerobatiics are a Joy.  Every day.